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The next debate is centered around foreign affairs. Mitt Romney made a major foreign affairs policy speech which his followers hailed as a new beginning. The truth is the Republican Party split over his speech. Despite much wailing and gnashing of teeth he echoed and confirmed much of what the President has been doing.
The Republican crazies in Congress however held hearings yesterday (while Congress is on vacation) that outed or advertised the activities of the CIA in Libya. The building where the American ambassador was killed was a CIA station. No one knew that until the Congressional hearings yesterday spilled the beans.
A great article from the economist about Gov. Romney's foreign policy speech can be found at www.economist.com/blog/lexington . It will give you some perspective for that debate.

I went to the Washington Post this moring and found a couple of articles you might be interested in. The first one was written by the U.S. economics editor for The Economist magazine. The Economist is a very respected news source. I read it weekly. The article by Greg Ip shows how little a president's economic policies influences his own term or reelection but can be felt in the next four to eight years or beyond. The next article is a response from Jim Leherer about his role in the Denver debate. I happen to be a fan of his and I have his book titled Tension City if anyone wants to read it. I will leave it at the Democratic Party's office downtown if you are interested.
Go to www.washingtonpost.com for the two articles.

There are two articles in the Oregonian newspaper from 10/5/12 that focus on issues in our state. The first one reported on the state Supreme Court ruling concerning campaign finance limits. In Oregon there is no dollar limitations on what a candidate can spend. The article also brought the issue into the race for Secretary of State between Kate Brown and Knute Buehler. The second article I found this morning was a guest editorial that showed no relationship between tax rates and in particular capital gains rates and the Oregon economy nor people leaving the state because of capital gains. You can find the articles by going to: www.oregonlive.com .
Also, don't forget about our candidate running for state offices. Antone Minthorn is running for the state senate from our senate district and Heidi Van Schoenhoven is the Democratic candidate from our legislative district.

The Union County Democrats continued community outreach efforts in 2012. Some of our activities were the booth at the 2012 Union County Fair, participation in Celebrate La Grande and picking up litter on a section of Highway 82 between mile point 4.7 to 7.2.

You can volunteer to help with these and our 2012 Get Out The Vote efforts by stopping by the campaign office at 1304 Adams Ave. (previous Marie Josephine shop). The office is open Monday through Friday 12 noon to 6PM and Saturday 10AM to 12 noon until the election.

Rep. Greg Walden is holding a town hall on Friday March 23, at 3:45 pm. It was originally planned for the Stampede Hall, but I understand the venue has been changed to the Elgin High school multi-purpose room.

This town hall is unusual for Walden for two reasons. First, there was advance notice that actually appeared in the Observer on Tuesday. Second, it is taking place in a public venue at a time when at least some constituents might be able to attend!

I have no doubt his new found desire to hold open town halls is a direct result of the successful “Where’s Walden?” action some of us held back in December. Perhaps the congressman is feeling a bit of heat in this election year?

We all understand that Mr. Walden is a conservative Republican. But voting against veterans’ benefits? Against extending unemployment benefits? Against injury compensation for 9/11 first responders? Against equal pay?

There are so many issues that Walden needs to be held accountable for. We Democrats in the 2nd District must hold the Congressman’s feet to the fire. Here are a few questions we might ask:

Many families in Union County are hurting this winter. Cold weather and unemployment from the on-going recession have often led to heartbreaking choices between buying food or vital medications or paying for a home heating emergency.

All Walk for Warmth proceeds go to assist families in Union County. Walk for Warmth calls each of us to open our hearts and wallets to help families, friends, and neighbors through a difficult time.

Please join with other Union County Democrats to help and "Move Your Feet to Give Others Heat"!

Now that President Obama has outlined his agenda for the year in his State of the Union address, I think it is safe to say the 2012 presidential campaign is officially underway!

Union County Democrats will gather this week and part of our discussion will be about the 2012 campaign. Please join us Wednesday, February 1st, from 5 to 6 p.m. in the second floor conference room of the Sac Annex at 105 Fir Street.

The Union County Democrats are hosting an informal social gathering on Monday, January 16th, from 5:30 to 7:30 P.M. in the Maridell Center at 1124 Washington Avenue in La Grande.

We’ll be serving hearty chili and cornbread along with fair trade coffee and good conversation. Local film maker and musician, Mike Surber, will be there with his guitar, his voice, and some tunes… perhaps a few from the debut solo album he recently recorded.

So come and enjoy good food, good company, and good music. Bring a friend or two. Learn about local efforts in support of fair trade goods. Learn how to support the Friday Backpack Program. And learn about ways to help Democrats in this very important election year!

Join with EOU students and community members for a march that begins at 11:00 am at Max Square in downtown La Grande.

Black Student Union President, Jamarkus Worles-Springfield, along with other members of the BSU, will welcome participants and lead the march. The route goes along Adams to Greenwood, then up 8th Street to the EOU campus, ending at the Hoke Main Lounge.

An open-mic program, along with light refreshments, will follow. Everyone is invited to share a poem, song, or reading focusing on diversity, human rights, or related issues.

Oregon supporters of a universal, single-payer health care system are looking east for inspiration, bringing Vermont activists to our state to outline how a grassroots movement there resulted in the successful adoption of a universal health care system last June. La Grande is a stop on a twelve city swing through Oregon by three members of the Vermont Workers Center, Kate Kanelstein, Sarah Weintraub and Mary Gerish. They will be joined by representatives from the events’ sponsors, Jobs with Justice and Oregon Single Payer Campaign, as they outline the strategies and tactics that worked in Vermont.